Between the hidden emails and Donald Trump’s luscious hair, more students would rather talk about the presidential campaign than Houston’s mayoral election coming up this November.

It makes sense, but mayoral elections are just as important as presidential ones.

The next mayor is not only the chief administrator and executive officer, but the face of the city so this deserves more than 13 percent of the voter population in Houston participating — one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country.

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the nation, which landed it in the No. 1 spot on Forbes’ annual list of America’s Fastest-Growing Cities. That’s 2 million people living in Houston, according the U.S. Census Bureau, who will be affected by the future mayor’s plans for infrastructure, public safety and the city’s economy.

A Houston Chronicle report showed that in-person turnout during the first seven days of early voting in 2013 was 33 percent less than in 2010, a number that is sure to keep dwindling this upcoming election.

We have a duty to the city we live in. Whether you live on campus or are a commuter, the next mayor’s agenda will affect every resident living within Houston.

We are all connected to social media and the internet. Everyone is surrounded by information on their laptops, TV’s or in their phones. There is no excuse why voters shouldn’t be informed on what’s going on in the city and the changes we are building toward.

This is the time to ask the whys and the hows. Houston is a growing and innovative city that is constantly changing with the people who are building it from the bottom up.

It is up to us to get a say in who we want to lead this diverse city.

Whether it’s a businessman, an engineer, a sheriff or any other candidate, it’s up to you to decide the direction of our city.

 —The Cougar Editorial Board

—
“Mayoral elections just as important as race for president” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar